THREE wines among the ‘outstanding' South African red blends particularly impressed in a panel tasting report for the March '26 issue of the UK's Decanter magazine. The Sacrament 2023, Abrie Beeslaar's Cape Bordeaux-Style red blend under his own label after stepping down as cellarmaster at Kanonkop: Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Cobblers Hill 2022 from Jordan: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot plus Petit Verdot. And Uva Mira's O.T.V. 2020: Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. All three wines from grapes grown in Stellenbosch. All three producers in the Top Wine SA Hall of Fame.
Also ‘outstanding' in the line-up of 90 were wines from Leeu Passant, Miles Mossop (two), Reyneke, Thistle & Weed and Tokara – all but a couple of them also Cape Bordeaux-style in composition, the exceptions being The Leeu Passant 2022 comprising the Cabernets Sauvignon and Franc but together with Cinsault, and Thistle & Weed's Nastergal 2022, a mix of Tempranillo (Tinta Roriz), Alicante Bouschet, Sousão, Pontac, Tinta Francisca and the Tourigas Naçional and Franca.
Nastergal was one of only two wines among those rated 96 or 95 and selling at under R400pb, the other being the 2021 Cornerstone from Reyneke. But arguably best value-for-money on the tasting bench was the Mullineux's 2023 Kloof Street Swartland Rouge comprising Shiraz, Grenache, Cinsault and Tinta Barocca, a 94-pointer at R160pb.
How was the line-up determined? “Producers and UK agents were invited to submit their current-release red blended wines involving any grape varieties, excluding Pinotage, sourced from any region in South Africa.” Perhaps the exclusion of Pinotage was because it was less than a year before that Decanter published a report focussing on the category including many a ‘Cape Blend'.
On the panel: Jason Millar, wine writer, presenter and judge with a focus on Italy and South Africa; Roger Jones, former owner of a Michelin-rated restaurant in Wiltshire, UK, judge at the Decanter World Wine Awards; Master of Wine Victoria Mason. According to Millar, the red blends reviewed clearly illustrated that “South Africa is one of the wine world's current hotspots for character and value.”
96/100
Beeslaar Sacrament 2023
R1100pb ex-producer, Stellenbosch
Jordan Cobblers Hill 2022
R621pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch Kloof
Uva Mira O.T.V. 2020
R1900pb ex-cellar, Helderberg-Stellenbosch
95/100
Leeu Passant 2022
R2160pb ex-cellar, Franschhoek
Miles Mossop Max 2020
R495pb ex-producer, Banghoek-Stellenbosch
Miles Mossop Sam 2020
R995pb ex-producer, Banghoek-Stellenbosch
Nastergal 2022
R333pb ex-Thistle & Weed cellar, Jonkershoek-Stellenbosch
Reyneke Cornerstone 2021
R350pb ex-cellar, Polkadraai Hills-Stellenbosch
Tokara Director's Reserve Red 2021
R545pb ex-cellar, Helshoogte-Stellenbosch
94/100
Intellego Kedungu 2022
R190pb ex-cellar, Paardeberg-Swartland
Kloof Street Swartland Rouge 2023
R160pb ex-Mullineux cellar, Riebeek Kasteel-Swartland
Saboteur Red 2021
R300pb ex-Luddite cellar, Bot River
Swerwer Red Blend 2022
R195pb ex-cellar, Malmesbury-Swartland
Uva Mira Fox's Lair 2022
R500pb ex-cellar, Helderberg-Stellenbosch
93/100
Beaumont Raoul's 2023
R230pb ex-cellar, Bot River
Bouchard Finlayson Hannibal 2021
R400pb ex-cellar, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley
Brookdale Mason Road GSM 2024
R165pb ex-cellar, Klein Drakenstein-Paarl
Groot Constantia Gouverneurs Reserve Red 2021
R615pb ex-cellar, Constantia
Holder Wabi-Sabi Cinsaut-Grenache 2023
Export wine, Stellenbosch producer
Idun Charismatique 2022
Price t.b.c., Elgin cellar
Jordan Sophia 2020
R1840pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch Kloof
Raats Jasper Red Blend 2022
R350pb ex-producer, Polkadraai-Stellenbosch
Stark-Condé Oude Nektar Cabernet Sauvignon 2023
R1100pb ex-cellar, Jonkershoek-Stellenbosch
Stony Brook Camissa 2022
R140pb ex-ellar, Franschhoek
